As a Californian who has first hand experience witnessing just how effective prophylactic measures are in staving off property damage and personal injury I am a big fan of strong building codes.

I don't doubt what you describe is marketed as storm shelters. But as a child I grew up on a farm in Michigan that had been in the family over 100 years. The storm shelters and storm shutters I was talking about are those like the ones that'd been in my family for a century or so. Modern steel security shutters make outstanding storm shutters, but they bear no resemblance to storm shutters of the past.

My wife informs me that CBS did a segment on the lack of shelters this morning, I'll have to dig it out...

-CW

And I do think Michale's right -- there is a deep-seated human penchant for saying "stuff like that happens to other people, not here." Which is why building codes force people to add design features they might not want to pay for.

I think the real story is probably "small town becomes big suburb as big developers buy up a bunch of land... developers talk city/county council out of strict building codes, because they cost more money to build." Maybe I'm just a cynic...

In any case, good discussion today, just had to say that. And, having drawn many a beer from kegs on various back porches in SF, I'm glad there's a few regulations -- some of those things are pretty shaky!!

Heh.

-CW

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22630185

Just more damn Guvment regulation. When will they learn that the free market will take care of these things (LOL)...

But I know that I get beat up a lot about reducing things down to a Right v Left issue..

So, I figured I would just share the wealth.. :D

Michale

Well, I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I was too busy recoiling at the horrible destruction and loss of life.. :^/

Michale

A couple of things about codes: Building Codes are usually adopted from model codes and they govern how things are built how many nails, size of members etc. Although they do provide for local conditions such as winds and earthquakes they are generally pretty uniform from place to place. Planning codes govern what may be built on a specific site, a single family house or a high rise. Planning codes (AKA zoning codes)are very local and differ enormously from place to place. They are rarely revised in their entirety and thus can become incredibly complicated, the San Francisco code (at last count) has 21 pages governing the shape and appearances of rear yard decks. So the local planning code would require shutters or shelter and the building code would govern how they are built.

I understand that the State of Oklahoma has an annual lottery where 500 residents "win" assistance in constructing a shelter.

I am shocked! Shocked I tell you!!

:D

Michale

There. I politicized it ;)

As I'm sure you're well aware your logic is what's used to hawk overpriced "warrantee extensions" on consumer electronics and appliances. Extensions that, cumulatively, and over time, cost more than the replacement cost for unextended goods. "Playing the odds" is known as "risk assessment." Unless you can predict the future there is no way to guarantee security. Attempting to purchase every kind of insurance there is is counter-productive, and guarantees you the financial hits you may, possibly, though unlikely, suffer through disaster. As I said building codes require both cellars and shutters. We just don't call them storm cellars or storm shutters anymore because we now use both for a lot more than storms.

Yer preachin' to the choir here. :D

Out of all the afore things listed (hurricanes, terrorism, floods, earthquakes, blizzards, tornadoes ) myself and/or my family have been thru all except for a tornado...

I am simply commenting that, Americans being the way we are (by and large cup-is-half-full mentality) most people don't think things like that will ever happen to them..

David,

I think there are structural reasons, CW. One that may play a role is the level of the water table in a state.

Which is why ya don't see many basements in FL.. :D

Conversely, we do have some pretty awesome catacombs in and around St Augustine, FL :D

Michale

-David

As I'm sure you're well aware your logic is what's used to hawk overpriced "warrantee extensions" on consumer electronics and appliances. Extensions that, cumulatively, and over time, cost more than the replacement cost for unextended goods. "Playing the odds" is known as "risk assessment." Unless you can predict the future there is no way to guarantee security. Attempting to purchase every kind of insurance there is is counter-productive, and guarantees you the financial hits you may, possibly, though unlikely, suffer through disaster. As I said building codes require both cellars and shutters. We just don't call them storm cellars or storm shutters anymore because we now use both for a lot more than storms.

Oh crap, NOW what am I supposed to do.. :D

Seriously, though, you raise good points..

But, we're Americans. We never think that tragedy or disaster will every visit us.

It's the same reason why the shops along Boston's Boylston St never took out Terrorism Insurance.

Hurricanes, terrorism, floods, earthquakes, blizzards, tornadoes....

Those are things that happen to other people. Never to us...

Surely the odds are against such things happening and most people play the odds and win..

But, sometimes.. The House wins...

Michale

Eventually much stronger buildings began to be erected on excavated foundations, with integral cellars. Modern housing routinely uses excavated foundations and includes basements. Names simply reflect primary use and change accordingly over time. Storm cellar until excavated foundations. Pantry until refrigeration. Coal bin until gas or electric service. Basements when use became more general.

Storm shutters were the result of having unglazed windows. Now our windows are shuttered with glass panes. No small above-ground structure has any great chance of survival if in the direct path of a tornado or hurricane.